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Show THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. He Always 'Involuntarily Prayed that the Slave Might Escape. Joshua R. Giddings in Congress, 1818. Why, sir, I never saw a panting fugitive speeding his way to a land of freedom, that an involuntary invocation did not burst from my lips, that God would aid him in his flight; such arethe feelings of every man in our free states, whose heart has not become hardened in iniquity. I do not confine this virtue to republicans, nor to anti-slavery men; I speak of all men, of all parties, in all christian communities. Northern democrats feel it; they ordinariljr bow to this higher law of their natures, and the3- only prove recreant to the law of the "Most High" when they regard the interests of the democratic demo-cratic party as sfl'perior to God's law and the rights of mankind. Gentlemen will bear with me when I assure as-sure them that the president and I have seen as many as nine fugitives dining at one time in my own house fathers, mothers, moth-ers, husbands, wives, parents, children. When they came to my door, hungry and faint, old and but partially clad, I did not j turn round to consult the fugitive slave law I nor to ask the president what to do. I j knew the constitution of my country and j would not violate it. I oheyed the divine mandate to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. I fed them, I clothed them, gave them money for their i journey and sent them on their way rejoicing. rejoic-ing. I obeyed God rather than the president. I I obeyed my conscience, the dictates of my heart, the law of my moral being, the commands com-mands of Heaven, and, I will add, the constitution con-stitution of my countrj-;for no man of iutelli-' iutelli-' gene' ever believed that the framers of that ' instrument intcuded to involve their descen-j descen-j dents of the free state in any act that should ; violate the teachings of the Most High, by seizing a fellow being, and returning him to the hell of slavery. If that be treason, make the most of it. Mr. Bennett of Mississippi 1 want to j know if the gentleman would not have gone i one step farther. Mr. Giddings Yes, sir; I would have gone one step farther. I would have driven the slave-catcher who dared pursue them from my premises. I would have kicked him from my door yard, if he had made his appearance appear-ance there; or, had he attempted to enter my dwelling, 1 would have stricken him down upon the threshold of my door. |